belly77
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,722
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Post by belly77 on Jul 10, 2013 8:22:45 GMT
I've done the Hadstock route but not the back roads through Linton, might have to give it a try. Face and I are contemplating cycling to the first game of the season but trying to avoid as many roads as possible.
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Post by kdwyellow on Jul 10, 2013 15:11:45 GMT
Avoiding all roads or A roads?
There's a cycle path that leads out from the back of Addenbrookes hospital by the Rosie Maternity unit. It goes towards Shelford and follows the train line. There is a Tarmac cycle way from The Genome Campus at Hinxton which is must eventually link up with. Pretty much a straight line from Hinxton to Cambridge.
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belly77
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,722
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Post by belly77 on Jul 15, 2013 7:30:03 GMT
Did another stunning ride yesterday morning. 1hr 25min 25 miler through Thaxted, Lindsell, Gt Bardfield, Finchingfield, Gt Sampford, Radwinter, Sewards End, Wimbish. There was a big race on as well with support cars and marshalls. I had the misfortune of going past a nasty accident. Two riders flat on their backs having their heads supported whilst covered in those foil blankets, passed the ambulance on my way past.
I nearly had several accidents myself. This route is quite bendy and I was trying not break round the corners but my instinct is to put my foot out which of course you can't do when your clipped in. Ended up having a couple of high speed wobbles up the verge. I'm also a little bit nervous still after my 2nd ride My front wheel just went out on me over a man hole. With those thin tyres your down before you know it.
Seeing as I'm still fairly new to it all can anyone give me any advice on technique, cornering etc etc. I feel like I'm changing gears far too often and notice the more professional looking cyclists that bomb past me seem to make it all look effortless. I'm fine on the flat but it's surprisingly hilly round these parts.
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face
Global Moderator
Volusion omelet F Willie yes
Posts: 3,938
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Post by face on Jul 15, 2013 14:19:01 GMT
Avoiding all roads or A roads? There's a cycle path that leads out from the back of Addenbrookes hospital by the Rosie Maternity unit. It goes towards Shelford and follows the train line. There is a Tarmac cycle way from The Genome Campus at Hinxton which is must eventually link up with. Pretty much a straight line from Hinxton to Cambridge. I heard there are plans afoot to link Walden with Chesterford with a cycle path, with the ultimate aim of creating a route between Walden and Cambridge. I suppose it would join up at the Genome Campus. I've just started biking a bit, but I'm not in anything like the same league as you chaps. I did a hilly eleven mile ride the other evening - albeit on my knobbly-tired mountain bike which has a gear selection problem. I think I can select 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th FFS. The whole third pedal cog is out of action. Managed a GPS-indicated 31mph mind! I prefer mixing some off-road in if I can.
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Badger
Youth team substitute
Posts: 513
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Post by Badger on Jul 28, 2013 11:51:52 GMT
Decide not to do London - Cambridge today but decided as it is my birthday to cycle down to Box Hill. 20 miles from my door (Twickenham) to the top.
Managed to do in on a mountain bike in 1 hr 40 which i am happy about, once over the top I headed towards Epsom and in towards Kingston. For about 5/6 miles over the other side of the hill is some great cycling. You cant free wheel for long but if you keep pedaling you can build up some really momentum. And because Box Hill wasn't enough I went back via Richmond so could do Richmond Hill.
Did 43.7 miles in 3hr 10mins, which I am happy with because of using a mountain bike. Anyone know of anywhere to get a decent road bike which is not a rip off?
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Denton
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,898
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Post by Denton on Jul 28, 2013 13:15:22 GMT
Halfords, amazon, ebay, tesco
i got mine from amazon i think £200 of investment
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Badger
Youth team substitute
Posts: 513
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Post by Badger on Jul 28, 2013 14:25:00 GMT
Cheers Denton, nice to see you being of use for once!
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Post by kdwyellow on Jul 28, 2013 17:37:45 GMT
I don't think you'd get ripped off anywhere. The Halfords Carreras and Boardman bikes are pretty good.
Wiggle is a good site for bikes and you get much better deals online. Places like Chain Reaction tend to do stock clearances on last years models. The 2014 range tends to get launched around September with Xmas in mind.
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Badger
Youth team substitute
Posts: 513
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Post by Badger on Jul 28, 2013 21:06:09 GMT
I saw online the Viking range for around £150 upwards but read reviews seeing how poor they are. My uncle bought a boardman, think I might be able to get one on cycle to work scheme so may do that.
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cambcam
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,590
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Post by cambcam on Jul 31, 2013 12:20:10 GMT
The London to Cambridge on Sunday was another enjoyable event. I'd done a couple of 50 milers and a 100km earlier this summer and had always been very happy with my times, which I figured were not too bad for a very occasional recreational rider, especially for one turning 50 next year! I didn't set out to get hung up on times, but you kind of get sucked in and breaking 3 hours for 50 miles always seemed frustratingly out of reach, but something to be proud of if achieved nonetheless.
Anyway, the conditions on Sunday were perfect with a wind coming up from the south, so I decided to wang it out from the start and give it a go. Was pretty amazed to come through 50 miles at 2hrs 37 mins, and through the finish (58.8 miles) at 3hrs 3 minutes. While in the zone I thought I'd give it a go down one of the hills and see what top speed I could hit - 37.8 mph with my little legs spinning like crazy.
I'll put a good deal of that down to the ideal conditions and will back off a bit from the numbers now. Still toying with the Oxford to Cambridge in September, and fancy a 100 miler at sometime in the future.
Oh and good to see a few riders in U's shirts, it was nice to have a brief chat along the way.
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Post by sneakyfate on Aug 9, 2013 12:05:51 GMT
I've just about come back down to earth after last Sunday's London 100. What an experience! Closed roads, near perfect weather, thousands of like-minded nutters, and enthusiastic crowds in every town and village. Coming up the finish on The Mall I was grinning like a lunatic, the atmosphere was so brilliant, people cheering and banging on the barriers just like they do in the Tour de France. The flag was flying from Buckingham Palace as I came to a halt after the line. I wonder if HM was watching from the window? Two targets beaten - I was aiming at a modest 8 hours, and managed just under 6h36m, and I was aiming to raise £600 for Send a Cow (hence the costume), and have so far got over £800. Entries for the ballot for next year's event open next Monday, August 12th, so if you fancy it, get in there!
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Badger
Youth team substitute
Posts: 513
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Post by Badger on Aug 10, 2013 14:24:05 GMT
Well done mate,
Can I just appeal to all U's fans to wear helmets.
was cycling home from work in Hampton yesterday and some idiot opened his door without looking, had 4 secs to avoid but couldnt. hit the inside of his door at 15mph, sommersaulted over his door and landed with my bike on top of me.
I have had such a lucky escape after last night is hospital with just bruises. My helmet saved me from alot of potential worse head injuries. All the docs said how lucky I am to just have suppeficial wounds.
SO PLEASE ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET!
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cambcam
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,590
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Post by cambcam on Aug 12, 2013 12:55:57 GMT
I've just about come back down to earth after last Sunday's London 100. What an experience! Closed roads, near perfect weather, thousands of like-minded nutters, and enthusiastic crowds in every town and village. Coming up the finish on The Mall I was grinning like a lunatic, the atmosphere was so brilliant, people cheering and banging on the barriers just like they do in the Tour de France. The flag was flying from Buckingham Palace as I came to a halt after the line. I wonder if HM was watching from the window? Two targets beaten - I was aiming at a modest 8 hours, and managed just under 6h36m, and I was aiming to raise £600 for Send a Cow (hence the costume), and have so far got over £800. Entries for the ballot for next year's event open next Monday, August 12th, so if you fancy it, get in there! Good work sneaky, very well done indeed - and thanks for the ballot info too. Sounds like you had a great time, and put in a decent time too! On that note, how does the timing work, is that the total time including any stops, or just ride time, did you do it non-stop etc etc?? Also, how did you find it managing your fluids and food? On the 50's I tend to just shove a couple of energy bars in my back pocket and crack on, but would imagine a 100 would require a more professional approach. I registered my entry this morning, not holding out too much hope but you never know. If unsuccessful, I'll definitely give one of the other 100 mile rides a go in the spring. The Cambridge to Norwich 77 miler on 29th of September is a tempting taster, might give that a bash as long as the weather is decent. Well done, keep at it!
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Post by sneakyfate on Aug 12, 2013 15:25:56 GMT
The time is measured by a chip in the number tag on the handlebars - there is one at the start line (incidentally about 2 miles from the roll-out at the Olympic Park) and one at the finish, with several in between giving intermediate times. So the time is your actual start to finish time including any stops you make. It was my first ever sportive, so I set myself a fairly modest target of 8 hours, and was planning on stopping about 3 times. I drink fluids on the move, but don't like eating on the move except perhaps the odd nibble on an energy bar. It didn't go entirely to plan, I was bursting for a pee at about 20 miles, missed the opportunity to nip behind a tree in Richmond Park, and had to queue for 10 leg-crossing minutes at the first official stop, where I also ate something. I then pushed on for the next 30 miles without eating anything much, and nearly paid for it on Leith Hill, where I started feeling distinctly wobbly. I made it to the top however, and then pulled over at the roadside a little way down and stuffed some more food (and this time did take advantage of the trees). The food had ample time to go down on the rest of the descent, and I was feeling fine when we tackled Box Hill - much easier than Leith Hill, nicely resurfaced for the Olympics and a relatively steady gradient. I had one more stop at 80 miles - I guess I spent a total of about 20-25 minutes off the bike. The final climb up to Wimbledon Common hurt a bit, coming so late in the ride at around 80 miles, but was mercifully short by comparison, After that, the crowds and the adrenaline saw me through to the end. I drank water and still Lucozade, plus one bottle with "energy powder" which I was offered at the 80-mile stop. I ate mostly grain bars and flapjacks - I had one of those yucky gels, which was OK, but didn't feel the need to down the other 2 I was carrying. I also had a banana. I was perhaps a bit unusual in having a small bag on the back of my bike, and carried all my supplies with me - it added to the weight, but potentially reduced the stopping time. Hope you make it in the ballot - I haven't entered yet, I'd better do so soon. I'll post a link to a video I made once I've sorted out copyright issues - it got bounced off Facebook, I think because I tried to use Queen's "Bicycle Race" as a backing track
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Post by sneakyfate on Aug 12, 2013 22:19:17 GMT
YouTube is obviously a little more tolerant of this kind of thing - I very much doubt that Queen are going to come and drag me off to court on account of this!
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